It’s 2024, which means Election Day for the 2024 Presidential Election is quickly approaching.
As high schoolers, many of us are or will soon be turning 18, which allows us to participate in elections that will affect our lives as young adults. As new voters, many teens are unfamiliar with the world of government and politics. Jargon and arbitrary deadlines can be intimidating, but it is crucial to not lose sight of the main goal of voting: selecting representatives who will make sure your voice is heard.
United States citizens are granted the opportunity to participate in our government, and voting is an essential component of that participation. By expressing your political opinions in this way, you are one step closer to seeing the changes in your community that align with your values.
First and foremost, if you are 18 years old, you must register to vote. If you are 16 or 17, you can follow the same steps to pre-register – but you won’t be able to vote until you turn 18. In New York City, you can register to vote in a few different ways. You can visit www.vote.nyc/page/register-vote to explore the different registration options. There are two ways to register online, through the New York City Board of Elections online voter registration system or through the New York State DMV online voter registration system.
Keep in mind that in order to register with the New York State DMV, you need to have an official license/permit/non-driver ID. You can also register to vote by mail or by visiting your local Board of Elections office in person. You can typically expect to receive your voter registration card (which you do not need to bring in order to vote in New York) anywhere from two to six weeks after registering. You can also visit www.voterlookup.elections.ny.gov or www.nycvotersearch.com to check your registration status and find out your voting districts.
Once you are registered to vote, you must identify your polling site, which can be found at www.vote.nyc/page/find-your-poll-site. Once you know where to cast your ballot, you can start researching the candidates and ballot-initiatives you can vote for. It’s always better to be informed in advance about the different positions of government on the federal, state, and city level before entering the booth. The 2024 New York City elections on November 5th, 2024 will include offices for the president, the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, the New York State Assembly, and the New York State Senate. “Down-ballot” voting, or voting for candidates in other offices aside from the presidency, tends to be neglected or written off as less important than the presidency. But these candidates play a fundamental role in making decisions that affect us, and consequently, it is imperative that we do our research about these candidates and cast our ballots for the ones who will represent us.
Youth voter turnout is crucial for the country as our voices and the decisions we make will affect us and our loved ones for generations. Thanks to youth voting movements across the country – in addition to pre-registration laws and automatic registration – the youth voter turnout has seen an overall increase across the country. In the United States around 50% of voters aged 18-29 voted in the last presidential election in 2020, while around 23% of votersaged 18-29 participated in the last midterm elections in 2022. We are more connected than ever thanks to the internet and social media, making it easier to share information about voting to groups that have historically low voter turnouts.
As Election Day approaches, make sure you are registered, and get ready to get out and vote on November 5th. In New York, schools are closed to students on Election Day, and if you are unable to vote in person, make sure you early voting and absentee ballot options to ensure your voice is heard. Spending an hour to make sure your vote is counted will lead to results that last for years. You don’t have to be invested in politics or know everything about every issue on every level. As long as you know what you believe in, you have the ability and the right to vote.
